You are not who you think you are.
You have not been defeated.
You are not of the world.
You are not weak.
You are no accident.

How many times may you have told yourself that just today? How many times this week have you felt defeated? How many times have you asked yourself why am I here and what is my purpose?

According to Psalm 139, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are knitted carefully and with great intent, intricately woven, and not by mistake. You are not defined by your past, what you do, your relationships, your successes, your failures or your appearance.

Don’t be caught in the lies that you must do in order to be accepted, that you must be in order to have victory. This false sense of self-worth leaves you full of doubt and worthlessness, stripping you of hope and making you feel even more like a failure.

This is not who you are!

You are a child of the King, adopted into his family and an heir to his mansion. You are not a slave to your past, but are redeemed through his blood and his grace, living in freedom from guilt and shame. You are not defined by who you are, what you eat, your body type or the choices you make. Your image is already determined for you. The battle has been fought and won.

The Word is Truth and your emotions can lead you astray. Stop falling prey to the lies in your head. Rely on those Truths, celebrate your true identity and choose to live in that victory.

I dare you to step out in victory as you start this New Year. Celebrate and embrace who you are.

There’s no other human on the planet like you.

(This post is an excerpt from Fit for the Soul, a spirit-led devotional book Sam is writing that will become available later this year).